Melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm/Drug Interactions:

  • AlcoholAlcohol: It has been suggested that lemon balm may increase the sedative effects of alcohol (92; 113). However, the additive effects of alcohol were lacking when combined with a Valeriana officinalis-Humulus lupulus-lemon balm combination product (115).
  • Alzheimer's agentsAlzheimer's agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with Alzheimer's agents. In human research, lemon balm extract improved cognition (128).
  • Antiangiogenesis agentsAntiangiogenesis agents: Research in genetically obese mice mitigated obesogenic adipose development via the inhibition of angiogenesis following administration of a combination lemon balm product (Ob-X) (16).
  • Antianxiety agentsAntianxiety agents: In human research, lemon balm exhibited antianxiety properties (3), and anxiety was reported following the use of a combination product containing lemon balm Carmint? (58).
  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: In vitro, bacterial strains with demonstrated susceptibility to lemon balm or its various constituents include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguisSalmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yersinia ruckeri, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Lactococcus garvieae, Listeria spp., and Corynebacterium parvum (137; 138; 139; 140; 59; 60; 110). Lemon balm also exhibited antibiotic properties against anaerobic and facultative aerobic periodontal bacteria, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Veillonella parvula, Eikenella corrodens, Peptostreptococcus micros, Actinomyces odontolyticus (141), S. enterica (142), and Shigella sonnei (143).
  • AnticholinergicsAnticholinergics: According to findings from clinical research, it has been suggested that lemon balm may displace scopolamine from muscarinic receptors, thus diminishing its anticholinergic activity (2; 92; 144).
  • Antidepressant agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Antidepressant agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): According to findings from in vitro research, lemon balm may inhibit serotonin (106).
  • AntidiabeticsAntidiabetics: According to a review, polyphenolic compounds in lemon balm may inhibit alpha-amylase activity (53). In diabetic mice, lemon balm lowered blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance, and regulated the activity of various glucose mediating enzymes, including hepatic glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (54).
  • Antifungal agentsAntifungal agents: Lemon balm inhibited the growth of many yeast species in vitro, including Torulaspora delbrueckii, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Pichia membranifaciens, Dekkera anomala, Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida albicans, and Monilia spp. (145; 146; 147; 148). Lemon balm has also demonstrated fungicidal effects against fungi strains common in decaying woods, such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Ceriporiopsis subvermisphora, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Trametes versicolor, Oligoporus placenta, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Coniophora puteana (149).
  • AntihistaminesAntihistamines: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with antihistamines. In animal research, rosmarinic acid, a constituent of lemon balm, reduced inflammation (110; 109).
  • AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced blood pressure and heart rate (107).
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: In animal research, rosmarinic acid, a constituent of lemon balm, reduced inflammation (110; 109).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal research, in vitro and ex vivo assays suggest that lemon balm may lower serum lipid and lipoprotein levels (72).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, lemon balm was effective against a series of human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, Caco-2, HL-60, K562) and one mouse cell line (B16F10) (19; 150).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: Research in genetically obese mice mitigated obesogenic adipose development via the inhibition of angiogenesis following administration of a combination lemon balm product (Ob-X) (16; 18; 17).
  • AntiprotozoalsAntiprotozoals: According to laboratory research, essential oils, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes from lemon balm may be effective against Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Meloidogyne incognita (35; 34; 151).
  • AntispasmodicsAntispasmodics: Data from both animal and in vitro experimentation have indicated that lemon balm may possess antispasmodic properties (36), although study results are mixed (152; 41; 92).
  • Antithyroid agentsAntithyroid agents: In animal and laboratory research, lemon balm altered thyroid function, and it may reduce thyroid hormone levels (57; 67; 68; 108).
  • Antiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agentsAntiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with antiulcer agents. In animal research, a combination lemon balm preparation (STW 5) reduced esophageal lesion severity and normalized levels of inflammatory markers (153).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: According to findings from laboratory and clinical research, lemon balm may interfere with Newcastle disease virus, Semliki forest virus, influenza virus, myxoviruses, vaccinia, HIV-1, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (154; 155; 156; 7; 9; 37; 42; 43).
  • BarbituratesBarbiturates: In animal research, lemon balm increased the hypnotic effects of barbiturates (14; 113).
  • Bone-formation agentsBone-formation agents: In animal research, lemon balm may negatively affect the magnesium mineral composition of the tibia bone (48).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In animal research, lemon balm reduced cardiac rate without altering the force of cardiac contractions (111) and produced a myorelaxant effect (78). In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced heart rate and blood pressure (107), while the combination product Klosterfrau Melissengeist? caused palpitations (84).
  • CNS depressantsCNS depressants: According to preclinical (112) and initial human research (92), lemon balm may have sedative effects. In mouse and trials and a review, lemon balm increased hypnotic effects of barbiturates (14; 113). In addition, it has been suggested that lemon balm may increase the sedative effects of alcohol (113; 92). However, no such effect was observed with concomitant administration of alcohol and a Valeriana officinalis-Humulus lupulus-lemon balm combination product (115).
  • Cytochrome P450-modifying agentsCytochrome P450-modifying agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with cytochrome P450-metabolized agents, specifically 2D6 inhibitors.
  • Dermatologic agentsDermatologic agents: According to findings from animal and early human research, lemon balm extract may have therapeutic potential for mitigating melanoma-associated pigmentation (157) and skin irritation (79). In human research, contact dermatitis (116), local reddening, burning sensation, paresthesia, residual pigmentation (39), and dermal irritation (40) occurred following topical administration of a cream.
  • Drugs that affect GABADrugs that affect GABA: In rat and in vitro studies, lemon balm extracts inhibited GABA transaminase (GABA-T) activity (158; 159; 160; 161; 162).
  • Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal research, a combination lemon balm preparation (STW 5) reduced esophageal lesion severity and normalized levels of inflammatory markers (153). In human research, cases of slight nausea and diarrhea have been reported when using the combination product Klosterfrau Melissengeist? (84), while anal pain before defecation was reported following administration of another combination product, Carmint?, containing M. officinalis, Mentha spicata, and Coriandrum sativum (58).
  • Glaucoma agentsGlaucoma agents: According to anecdotal accounts, lemon balm may increase intraocular pressure, thereby diminishing the effects of glaucoma medications.
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: According to findings from rat studies, lemon balm may inhibit the binding of human chorionic gonadotropin 125I (125I hCG) (56) and reduce serum levels and hypophyseal stores of prolactin (57).
  • ImmunosuppressantsImmunosuppressants: According to findings from laboratory and animal studies, lemon balm has demonstrated immune-modulating effects (109; 110; 163).
  • Neurologic agentsNeurologic agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with neurologic agents. Neurologic effects of lemon balm have been reported in animal research (160; 159; 161; 158; 144; 164; 106; 69; 15). In human research, headache was reported following the use of a combination product containing lemon balm, Klosterfrau Melissengeist? (84). Also, 1,200mg of lemon balm resulted in EEG changes (114), and lemon balm affected alertness (92). In other preliminary research, combination products containing lemon balm have been shown to affect the electrical activity of the human brain; specifically, alpha2 frequencies (which indicate relaxed states) were increased (165).
  • Nicotinic antagonistsNicotinic antagonists: According to findings from clinical research, lemon balm may displace nicotine from nicotinic receptors (2; 92; 144).
  • Ophthalmic agentsOphthalmic agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may increase intraocular pressure.
  • SedativesSedatives: According to findings from preclinical (112) and initial human research (92), lemon balm may have sedative effects. In mouse and clinical trials, lemon balm increased the hypnotic effects of barbiturates (14; 113). Theoretically, lemon balm may increase the sedative effects of alcohol (113; 92). However, no such effect was observed with concomitant administration of alcohol and a Valeriana officinalis-Humulus lupulus-lemon balm combination product (115).
  • Sleep inducersSleep inducers: In human research, use of combination products containing lemon balm caused sleep disturbances and tiredness (75; 14; 115) and morning sleepiness (90). However, the effects of lemon balm alone are unclear, as in many reports, the combination product also included Valeriana officinalis.
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: In euthyroid rats, the administration of freeze-dried extracts of lemon balm was reported to reduce pituitary and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations (67; 68; 57). One study suggested that constituents of lemon balm may block the binding of TSH to its receptor by acting on both the hormone and the receptor itself (108). Theoretically, lemon balm may interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with vasodilators. In preclinical research, lemon balm has been shown to produce a myorelaxant effect (78).

    • Lemon Balm/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Alzheimer's agentsAlzheimer's agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with Alzheimer's agents. In human research, lemon balm extract improved cognition (128).
  • Antiangiogenesis agentsAntiangiogenesis agents: Research in genetically obese mice mitigated obesogenic adipose development via the inhibition of angiogenesis following administration of a combination lemon balm product (Ob-X) (16).
  • Antianxiety agentsAntianxiety agents: In human research, lemon balm exhibited antianxiety properties (3) and anxiety was reported following the use of a combination product containing lemon balm Carmint? (58).
  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: In vitro, the bacterial strains with demonstrated susceptibility to lemon balm or its various constituents include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguisSalmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yersinia ruckeri, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio anguillarum, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Lactococcus garvieae, Listeria spp., and Corynebacterium parvum (137; 138; 139; 140; 59; 60; 110). Lemon balm has also been shown to exhibit antibiotic properties against anaerobic and facultative aerobic periodontal bacteria, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Veillonella parvula, Eikenella corrodens, Peptostreptococcus micros, Actinomyces odontolyticus (141), S. enterica (142), and Shigella sonnei (143).
  • AnticholinergicsAnticholinergics: According to findings from clinical research, it has been suggested that lemon balm may displace scopolamine from muscarinic receptors, thus diminishing its anticholinergic activity (2; 92; 144).
  • Antidepressant agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Antidepressant agents, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): According to findings from in vitro experimentation, lemon balm may inhibit serotonin (106).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: Lemon balm inhibited the growth of many yeast species in vitro, including Torulaspora delbrueckii, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Pichia membranifaciens, Dekkera anomala, Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida albicans, and Monilia spp. (145; 146; 147; 148). Lemon balm has also demonstrated fungicidal effects against fungi strains common in decaying woods, such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Ceriporiopsis subvermisphora, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Trametes versicolor, Oligoporus placenta, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Coniophora puteana (149).
  • AntihistaminesAntihistamines: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with antihistamines. In animal research, rosmarinic acid, a constituent of lemon balm, reduced inflammation (110; 109).
  • Anti-inflammatory agentsAnti-inflammatory agents: In animal research, rosmarinic acid, a constituent of lemon balm, reduced inflammation (110; 109).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In animal research, in vitro and ex vivo assays suggest that lemon balm may lower serum lipid and lipoprotein levels (72).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, lemon balm was effective against a series of human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, Caco-2, HL-60, K562) and one mouse cell line (B16F10) (19; 150).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: Research in genetically obese mice mitigated obesogenic adipose development via the inhibition of angiogenesis following administration of a combination lemon balm product (Ob-X) (16; 18; 17).
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: According to findings from in vitro and animal research, lemon balm may possess antioxidant properties (19; 165; 12; 110; 8; 166; 51; 10; 167; 109; 168; 11; 22; 25; 32; 33; 24; 28; 23; 73; 30; 54).
  • Antiprotozoal agentsAntiprotozoal agents: According to laboratory research, essential oils, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes from lemon balm may be effective against Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Meloidogyne incognita (35; 34; 151).
  • AntispasmodicsAntispasmodics: Data from both animal and in vitro experimentation have indicated that lemon balm may possess antispasmodic properties (36), although results are mixed (152; 41; 92).
  • Antiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agentsAntiulcer and gastric acid-reducing agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with antiulcer agents. In animal research, a combination lemon balm preparation (STW 5) reduced esophageal lesion severity and normalized levels of inflammatory markers (153).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: According to findings from laboratory and clinical research, lemon balm may interfere with Newcastle disease virus, Semliki forest virus, influenza virus, myxoviruses, vaccinia, HIV-1, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (154; 155; 156; 7; 9; 37; 42; 43).
  • Bone-formation agentsBone-formation agents: In animal research, lemon balm may negatively affect the magnesium mineral composition of the tibia bone (48).
  • Cardiovascular agentsCardiovascular agents: In animal research, lemon balm reduced cardiac rate without altering the force of cardiac contractions (111) and produced a myorelaxant effect (78). In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced heart rate and blood pressure (107), while the combination product Klosterfrau Melissengeist? caused palpitations (84).
  • Cytochrome P450-modifying agentsCytochrome P450-modifying agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with cytochrome P450-metabolized agents, specifically 2D6 inhibitors.
  • Gastrointestinal agentsGastrointestinal agents: In animal research, a combination lemon balm preparation (STW 5) reduced esophageal lesion severity and normalized levels of inflammatory markers (153). In human research, cases of slight nausea and diarrhea have been reported when using the combination product Klosterfrau Melissengeist? (84), while anal pain before defecation was reported following administration of another combination product, Carmint?, containing M. officinalis, Mentha spicata, and Coriandrum sativum (58).
  • Glaucoma agentsGlaucoma agents: Anecdotal accounts suggest that lemon balm may increase intraocular pressure, thereby diminishing effects of glaucoma treatments.
  • Herbs and supplements that affect GABAHerbs and supplements that affect GABA: In rat and in vitro studies, lemon balm extracts inhibited GABA transaminase (GABA-T) activity (158; 159; 160; 161; 162).
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: According to findings from rat studies, lemon balm may inhibit the binding of human chorionic gonadotropin 125I (125I hCG) (56) and reduce serum levels and hypophyseal stores of prolactin (57).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: According to a review, polyphenolic compounds in lemon balm may inhibit alpha-amylase activity (53). In diabetic mice, lemon balm lowered blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance, and regulated the activity of various glucose mediating enzymes, including hepatic glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (54).
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced blood pressure and heart rate (107).
  • ImmunomodulatorsImmunomodulators: According to findings from laboratory and animal studies, lemon balm has demonstrated immune-modulating effects (109; 110; 163).
  • Insect repellantsInsect repellants: According to findings from preclinical research, the viability of Plodia interpunctella H?bner and Culex pipiens was susceptible to lemon balm (134; 70).
  • Neurologic agentsNeurologic agents: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with neurologic agents. Neurologic effects of lemon balm have been reported in animal research (160; 159; 161; 158; 144; 164; 106; 69; 15). In human research, headache was reported following the use of a combination product containing lemon balm, Klosterfrau Melissengeist? (84). Also, 1,200mg of lemon balm resulted in EEG changes (114), and lemon balm affected alertness (92). In other preliminary research, combination products containing lemon balm have been shown to affect the electrical activity of the human brain; specifically, alpha2 frequencies (which indicate relaxed states) were increased (165).
  • Nicotinic antagonistsNicotinic antagonists: According to findings from clinical research, lemon balm may displace nicotine from nicotinic receptors (2; 92; 144).
  • Radioprotective agentsRadioprotective agents: In human research examining ionization radiation-induced oxidative stress, twice-daily consumption of 1.5g/100mL of infused lemon balm tea demonstrated a protective effect, as evidenced by increased plasma levels of antioxidative catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as decreased DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase (74).
  • SedativesSedatives: According to findings from preclinical (112) and initial human research (92), lemon balm may have sedative effects. In mouse and clinical trials, lemon balm increased the hypnotic effects of barbiturates (14; 113). Theoretically, lemon balm may increase the sedative effects of alcohol (113; 92). However, no such effect was observed with concomitant administration of alcohol and a Valeriana officinalis-Humulus lupulus-lemon balm combination product (115).
  • Skin agentsSkin agents: According to findings from animal and early human research, lemon balm extractives may have therapeutic potential for mitigating melanoma-associated pigmentation (157) and skin irritation (79).
  • Sleep inducersSleep inducers: In human research, use of combination products containing lemon balm, caused sleep disturbances and tiredness (75; 14; 115) and morning sleepiness (90). However, the effects of lemon balm alone are unclear, as in many reports, the combination product also included Valeriana officinalis.
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: In animal and laboratory research, lemon balm altered thyroid function, and it may reduce thyroid hormone levels (57; 67; 68; 108).
  • VasodilatorsVasodilators: According to secondary sources, lemon balm may interact with vasodilators. In preclinical research, lemon balm has been shown to produce a myorelaxant effect (78).

    • Lemon Balm/Food Interactions:

  • Food preservativesFood preservatives: In laboratory research, lemon balm extended the shelf life and prevented the spoilage of various foods (29; 23; 60). In laboratory research, lemon balm has demonstrated comparable, if not improved, antioxidant activity to that of the synthetic preservative butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) (64; 81), and it may act synergistically with sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate to protect against various food-spoiling bacteria (62). Lemon balm has also demonstrated additive antibacterial effects against the growth of Listeria spp. in vitro, both alone and in combination with thyme essential oil (59).

    • Lemon Balm/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood pressureBlood pressure: In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced blood pressure (107).
  • Coagulation measurementsCoagulation measurements: According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of coagulation function in persons diagnosed with HIV (169).
  • GlucoseGlucose: According to a review, polyphenolic compounds in lemon balm may inhibit alpha-amylase activity (53). In diabetic mice, lemon balm has been shown to regulate glucose levels and glucose tolerance, as well as the activity of various glucose-mediating enzymes (54). According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of serum glucose in persons diagnosed with HIV (169)
  • Heart rateHeart rate: In human research, the combination product Novo-Baldriparan? reduced heart rate (107).
  • HormonesHormones: According to findings from rat studies, lemon balm may inhibit the binding of 125I hCG (56) and reduce serum levels and hypophyseal stores of prolactin (57).
  • Immune panelImmune panel: According to findings from laboratory and animal studies, lemon balm has demonstrated immune-modulating effects (109; 110; 163).
  • Kidney panelKidney panel: According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of kidney function in persons diagnosed with HIV (169).
  • LipidsLipids: In vitro and ex vivo animal research suggests that lemon balm may lower lipid levels and fat mass, as well as inhibit the progression of angiogenesis (72; 18; 17). According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of cholesterol and triglyceride in persons diagnosed with HIV (169)
  • Liver panelLiver panel: According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of liver function in persons diagnosed with HIV (169).
  • Thyroid function testsThyroid function tests: In animal and laboratory research, lemon balm altered thyroid function, and it may reduce thyroid hormone levels (57; 67; 68; 108).
  • Uric acidUric acid: According to a review, lemon balm may interfere with the assessment of uric acid in persons diagnosed with HIV (169)